Airbag ARDS: airbag fumes exposure leading to ARDS

We present a case of a man in his early 50s, who developed severe respiratory distress following exposure to airbag fumes after a road traffic accident. Despite initial treatment for lower respiratory tract infection, his condition worsened, necessitating intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation (MV). Subsequent investigations ruled out infections, autoimmune causes and lung contusion, leading to a diagnosis of chemical pneumonitis secondary to sodium azide exposure. Treatment with pulse steroids and prone positioning during MV resulted in significant clinical improvement. The patient was successfully extubated and discharged after 23 days with complete resolution of respiratory symptoms. This case underscores the importance of considering chemical pneumonitis in patients presenting with respiratory distress following airbag deployment and highlights the effective management strategies that contributed to the patient's recovery.